Isaiah 33:4
New International Version
Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts; like a swarm of locusts people pounce on it.

New Living Translation
Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and vines, so the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped!

English Standard Version
and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.

Berean Standard Bible
Your spoil, O nations, is gathered as by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it.

King James Bible
And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

New King James Version
And Your plunder shall be gathered Like the gathering of the caterpillar; As the running to and fro of locusts, He shall run upon them.

New American Standard Bible
Your plunder is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; Like an infestation of locusts, people storm it.

NASB 1995
Your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; As locusts rushing about men rush about on it.

NASB 1977
And your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; As locusts rushing about, men rush about on it.

Legacy Standard Bible
Your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; As locusts rushing about men rush about on it.

Amplified Bible
Your spoil [of Israel’s foe] is gathered [by the people of Jerusalem] as the caterpillar gathers; As locusts swarming so people swarm on it.

Christian Standard Bible
Your spoil will be gathered as locusts are gathered; people will swarm over it like an infestation of locusts.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Your spoil will be gathered as locusts are gathered; people will swarm over it like an infestation of locusts.

American Standard Version
And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathereth: as locusts leap shall men leap upon it.

Contemporary English Version
We attack our enemies like swarms of locusts; we take everything that belongs to them.

English Revised Version
And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpiller gathereth: as locusts leap shall they leap upon it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You nations, your loot is gathered as grasshoppers harvest a crop. Like swarming locusts, people rush for your loot.

Good News Translation
Their belongings are pounced upon and taken as loot.

International Standard Version
Your plunder is gathered as when grasshoppers gather; just like locusts pounce, people have pounced on it.

Majority Standard Bible
Your spoil, O nations, is gathered as by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it.

NET Bible
Your plunder disappears as if locusts were eating it; they swarm over it like locusts!

New Heart English Bible
Your spoil will be gathered as the caterpillar gathers. Men will leap on it as locusts leap.

Webster's Bible Translation
And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

World English Bible
Your plunder will be gathered as the caterpillar gathers. Men will leap on it as locusts leap.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Your spoil has been gathered, "" A gathering of the caterpillar, "" As a running to and fro of locusts "" He is running on it.

Young's Literal Translation
And gathered hath been your spoil, A gathering of the caterpillar, As a running to and fro of locusts is he running on it.

Smith's Literal Translation
And your spoil was gathered the gathering of the locust: as the running about of locusts he ran to and fro upon it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And your spoils shall be gathered together as the locusts are gathered, as when the ditches are full of them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And your spoils will be gathered together, just as the locusts are collected when the ditches have become filled with them.

New American Bible
Spoil is gathered up as caterpillars gather, an onrush like the rush of locusts.

New Revised Standard Version
Spoil was gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, they leaped upon it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Henceforth your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar; as a swarm of locusts when it is gathered together.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Therefore your loot shall be gathered as the gathering of crawling locusts, and like a gathering of locusts that are assembled
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathereth; As locusts leap do they leap upon it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now shall the spoils of your small and great be gathered: as if one should gather locusts, so shall they mock you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD is Exalted
3The peoples flee the thunder of Your voice; the nations scatter when You rise. 4Your spoil, O nations, is gathered as by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it. 5The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.…

Cross References
Joel 2:9
They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves.

Nahum 3:16
You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of the sky. The young locust strips the land and flies away.

Habakkuk 2:7
Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey.

Jeremiah 51:14
The LORD of Hosts has sworn by Himself: “Surely I will fill you up with men as with locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you.”

Zephaniah 1:13
Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

Proverbs 1:13
We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

Micah 2:2
They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

Obadiah 1:5
“If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, how you will be ruined—would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?

Jeremiah 49:9
If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Were thieves to come in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted?

Ezekiel 22:13
Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst.

Matthew 24:43
But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

Luke 12:39
But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

1 Thessalonians 5:2
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”


Treasury of Scripture

And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run on them.

your spoil

Isaiah 33:23
Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.

2 Kings 7:15,16
And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king…

2 Chronicles 14:13
And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.

the running

Joel 2:9,25
They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief…

Jump to Previous
Caterpillar Caterpiller Fro Gathered Gathereth Gathering Gathers Goods Harvested Leap Massing Nations Plunder Run Running Rush Rushing Spoil Swarm Together War Young
Jump to Next
Caterpillar Caterpiller Fro Gathered Gathereth Gathering Gathers Goods Harvested Leap Massing Nations Plunder Run Running Rush Rushing Spoil Swarm Together War Young
Isaiah 33
1. God's judgments against the enemies of the church
13. The consternation of sinners, and privileges of the godly














Your spoil
The term "spoil" refers to the goods or benefits taken from a defeated enemy. In the Hebrew context, the word used is "בַּז" (baz), which signifies plunder or booty. Historically, spoils were a common part of warfare in the ancient Near East, symbolizing victory and divine favor. In this verse, the spoil represents the wealth and resources of the Assyrians, which will be taken by the people of God. This reflects God's promise of deliverance and justice for His people, emphasizing that what was once in the hands of the oppressors will be returned to the righteous.

will be gathered
The phrase "will be gathered" comes from the Hebrew root "אָסַף" (asaph), meaning to collect or assemble. This gathering is not a mere collection but an organized and purposeful act, suggesting divine orchestration. In the biblical narrative, gathering often implies God's intervention, as seen in the gathering of manna or the assembly of Israel. Here, it indicates that the spoils will be collected systematically, as part of God's plan to restore His people.

as if by locusts
Locusts in the Bible are often symbols of destruction and judgment, as seen in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 10:12-15). The Hebrew word "אַרְבֶּה" (arbeh) is used here, evoking images of swarms that consume everything in their path. However, in this context, the imagery is reversed; instead of bringing destruction, the locusts symbolize the thorough and overwhelming gathering of spoils. This suggests a complete and inevitable transfer of wealth, highlighting the totality of God's deliverance.

like a swarm of locusts
The repetition of the locust imagery reinforces the idea of an unstoppable force. A "swarm" in Hebrew is "גָּדוּד" (gadud), which can also mean a band or troop. This conveys the idea of a coordinated and powerful movement. Historically, swarms of locusts were feared for their ability to strip the land bare, but here, they represent the righteous reclaiming what was taken. This imagery serves as a metaphor for the overwhelming and decisive nature of God's intervention.

men will pounce on it
The word "pounce" suggests a sudden and forceful action. In Hebrew, the verb "שָׁסָה" (shasah) means to plunder or seize. This action is not passive but aggressive and determined, indicating the eagerness and readiness of God's people to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. The use of "men" emphasizes human agency in the fulfillment of divine prophecy, showing that while God orchestrates events, He often uses His people to accomplish His purposes.

(4) Your spoil . . .--The words are addressed to the invader. He who came to spoil should find himself spoiled. As caterpillars and locusts devour the green herbage, so should he (or they, the indefinite pronoun standing for the people of Jerusalem) strip his camp of all its treasures.

Verse 4. - Your spoil shall be gathered. The "spoiling" of Assyria would commence with the discomfiture of the great host. In the historical narrative (2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36) nothing is said of it; but, beyond a doubt, when the host was to a largo extent destroyed, and the remainder fled, there must have been an enormous booty left behind, which the enemies of the Assyrians would naturally seize. A further spoiling of the fugitives probably followed; and, the prestige of the great king being gone, marauding bands would probably on all sides ravage the Assyrian territory. Like the gathering of the caterpillar. The "caterpillar" (khasil) is probably the grub out of which the locust develops - a very destructive insect. Shall he run. It would be better to render, shall they run. The word, indeed, is in the singular; but it is used distributively, of the various spoilers.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Your spoil
שְׁלַלְכֶ֔ם (šə·lal·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 7998: A prey, spoil, plunder, booty

will be gathered
וְאֻסַּ֣ף (wə·’us·sap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

as if by locusts;
הֶֽחָסִ֑יל (he·ḥā·sîl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2625: The ravager, a locust

like a swarm
כְּמַשַּׁ֥ק (kə·maš·šaq)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4944: A traversing, rapid motion

of locusts
גֵּבִ֖ים (gê·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1357: A locust

men will pounce
שׁוֹקֵ֥ק (šō·w·qêq)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8264: To course, to seek greedily

on it.
בּֽוֹ׃ (bōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


Links
Isaiah 33:4 NIV
Isaiah 33:4 NLT
Isaiah 33:4 ESV
Isaiah 33:4 NASB
Isaiah 33:4 KJV

Isaiah 33:4 BibleApps.com
Isaiah 33:4 Biblia Paralela
Isaiah 33:4 Chinese Bible
Isaiah 33:4 French Bible
Isaiah 33:4 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Isaiah 33:4 Your spoil will be gathered as (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 33:3
Top of Page
Top of Page